Around 2,500 people attended this year's Buddha Day at Quang Minh Temple on Sunday 17-05-2009. This event was also seen as an open day for the whole family. The day began with a Special Service by Vietnamese Buddhist Groups Dai Hoan Hy & Dai Bi Quang Am at 9am, followed by a formal service in the Community Hall. A free vegetarian lunch was provided at 1 pm, and community performances started at 1:30pm.
Vesak or Buddha Day is also known as बुद्ध पुर्णिमा Buddha Purnima or बुद्ध जयंती Buddha Jayanti in India or Phật Đản in Vietnamese. Vesak is an annual holiday observed traditionally by practicing Buddhists in many Asian countries like India, Nepal, Hong Kong, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Indonesia and Taiwan.
On Vesak day, devout Buddhists and followers alike are expected and requested to assemble in their various temples before dawn for the ceremonial, and honorable, hoisting of the Buddhist flag and the singing of hymns in praise of the holy triple gem: The Buddha, The Dharma (his teachings), and The Sangha (his disciples). Devotees may bring simple offerings of flowers, candles and joss-sticks to lay at the feet of their teacher. These symbolic offerings are to remind followers that just as the beautiful flowers would wither away after a short while and the candles and joss-sticks would soon burn out, so too is life subject to decay and destruction. Devotees are enjoined to make a special effort to refrain from killing of any kind. They are encouraged to partake of vegetarian food for the day.
Last Updated on Wednesday, 22 June 2011 09:31